Lenten Reflections: Dust to Dust

Friday, March
15, 2013

Ecclesiastes 5: 8-20Mark 9: 2-13Romans 1:16-23

By Marilyn
J. Seiber

I
love the lyrical reality of Ecclesiastes.
In simple yet compelling words, the writer hits you with life’s truths,
the reality of human nature that we all recognize but often choose to ignore. Verse 8 starts with, “If you witness…the
oppression of the poor and the denial of right and justice, do not be surprised
at what goes on….” The question is not do we witness it, but do we think about why it happens and whether we should
“pass on by” or do something about it.

Frankly, I am always filled with admiration for people who tirelessly
work on behalf of the poor, seeking justice through fair and affordable
housing, food pantries, equal education, children’s safety, and labor and
employment fairness. Seeking justice in
God’s world should be job one, but so often we are so busy, so distracted.

Then
Ecclesiastes gets to the heart of so many problems—money and the
constant
desire for it, which creates rampant
consumerism and a "gotta have it" society. The writer does get
into Economics 101 and the multiplier effect (“When riches multiply, so
do
those who live off them”), but that is not the central point. The
central truth of the possible effects of
wealth and riches is that no matter how much you have, it is never
enough. Worrying about money and riches brings stress
and emptiness, says the writer. “Gnawing anxiety and great vexation are
his
lot.” He sees a “singular evil”—“ a man hoards wealth to his own hurt,
and then
that wealth is lost through an unlucky venture.” Stock market,
gambling? Wealth can be gained and used for good or
evil. The chase for wealth can bring a
whole society down—witness the financial crisis and great recession. Was
the gain by the few worth it to them? “You can’t take it with you” is
the
saying. And Ecclesiastes says, “he came
from the womb of mother earth, so must he return, naked as he came.”
Dust to dust.

This
should make us re-evaluate our lives and what is important, what brings
happiness, peace, and contentment. We must learn to appreciate our lives, count
our blessings, and work to do right in the world “throughout the brief span of
life that God has allotted.” If we do
this, says Ecclesiastes, “[we] will not dwell overmuch upon the passing years;
for God fills [our] time with joy of heart.”

Prayer: God, fill our hearts with joy and give us the
wisdom to work for right and justice, to appreciate the gifts you have given
us, and to share these gifts with others.

Comments

Amen, Sister! And, there is nothing new under the sun about this. On the one hand, it is good to be thankful for all that we have but on the other hand, it is not good that we have so much more than so many others. I know and understand the struggle.

The quest for excessive wealth accumulation, especially in the South Sahara Africa, has effectively undermined the essence of God's abundant gifts to us. we need to wake up and appreciate God by appropriating his rich resources to help the weak reach theor potentials.No one created a single thing: we are given all things freely and we sahould use these as prudent as possible, so that we could give account at the end of our lives here.

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